Vehicle steering mechanism.



No. 672,620. Patented Apr. 23, 190k J. P. HORTON.

VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM.

(Application filed June 30, l900.- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

WI T E [NI/ENTOR.

' W I BY jf/orfafl" m: Nonms mzns co. Puomumon WASHINGTON n. c.

No. 672,620. Patented Apr. 23, I901. J. P. HORTON.

VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM.

(Application filed June 30, 1.900.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No-Model.)

IN I/EN TOR.

THE nonms PEYERS co unwroannw.v wAsmuamu. n. c.

JAMES P. HORTON, OF

VEHICLE STEERI DENVER, COLORADO.

NG MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 672,620, dated April23, 1901.

Application filed Tune 30, 1900 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES P. HORTON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver,in the connty of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehiclesand Steering Mechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which-it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thecharacters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicles and steering mechanism;and it consists of the features, arrangements, and combinationshereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which isillustrated anembodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy locomotiveequipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the running-gear and platform withthe body removed. Fig. 4. is a rear end view of the vehicle. Fig. 5 is asection taken on the line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section taken throughthe platform adjacent the forward wheels, Fig. 7 is a section takenthrough the journal of one of the intermediate wheels. Fig. 8 is a sideview of the same, showing a fragment of the steering-lever and the rodwith which it is connected.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the platform upon which is mounted a boiler6 and cab 7. The boiler is provided with parts A, B, and 0, giving theapparatus the general appearance of a steam-operated locomotive. Thefront part of the platform 5 is supported by a U-shaped bracket 5 whosebottom part is pivotally connected with a plate 8, fast on the frontaxle 8 by a bolt or pin 12, whereby the axle is allowed to turn freelyindependently of the platform. The front axle 8 is supported by wheels8. The rear part of the platform 5 is supported by vertical arms 15,each of which is provided with two vertically-separated lugs 15. Each ofthe intermediate Serial No. 22,156. \No model-.1

wheels 10 is mounted on a short or stub axle composed of thewheel-journal a vertical cylinder part 15, and an inward projection 15The part 15 is provided with a longitudinal opening registering withapertures formed in the lugs 15 Each stub-axle is permitted a horizontalmovement on a pin 30, which occupies a position at right angles to theaxis of the wheel 9, which engages the journal 15. Each axle projection15 is provided with a sort of double strap 14, which extends bothforward and rearward of the axle. A rod is pivotally connected with thisstrap in the rear of the axle. The rear extremity of the rod 25 isconnected with the lower arm of a lever 24, fulcru med at 24 on arearward extension 5 of the platform. Both levers 24 are within easyreach of the rider, who sits on a saddle 17 within the cab. This saddleis mounted on a frame 16, provided. with forkarms 16", in which the axle10 of the wheels 10 is journaled. The frame 16 is provided with aforwardly-extending bar, which is pivotally connected at 16 with abracket 18, mounted on the rear part of the platform. The frame 16 isprovided with a hanger 16 in which the shaft 21 is journaled. This shaftis provided with pedal-cranks 22 and a sprocket-wheel 20. Thesprocket-wheel is connected with a sprocket-wheel 19 on the rear axle 10by a chain 23.

The rear extremity of each forward rod 13 is pivotally connected with astrap 14 forward of each stub-axle, while the forward extremity of eachrod 13 is pivotally connected with the forward axle 8 on the oppositeside of the platform or on the opposite side of the pin 12. The two rods13 cross each other underneath the platform in the rear of the axle 8*.(See Fig.

In operating the vehicle the rider sits on the saddle 17 and propels itby his feet,which are placed on the pedals of the cranks 22. Thesteering is accomplished through the instrumentality of the levers 24,the two parallel rods 25, and the two crossed rods 13. By virtue of theconstruction heretofore described it will be understood that themovement of either lever will turn the wheels 8 and 9, causing themachine to turn to the right or left, as may be desired. If the riderdesires to turn to the right, he pushes forwardly on the left-handlever, whic'h'draws rearwardly on the left-hand rods and 13,

turns the corresponding stub-axle on its vertical axis, and shifts theforward axle 8 to a position parallel with the stub-axle. This movementof the "forward axle 8 draws on the opposite rod and imparts acorresponding movement to the right-hand wheel 9 and its stub-axle.

result.

Having 'th us d e sc'ri bed m y in ve'n'ti on, what I claim is I i 1. Ina vehicle, the combination of three pairs of wheels and axles upon whichthe wheels are jonrnaled the axle's'o'f two pairs of wheels beingpivoted on the body of the vehicle, 'a le'verl'ulcruined on the bodyo'fthe vehicle, and a connection between the lever pair of Wheels, twostub-axles independently If it is desired to turn to *theleft, theright-hand lever is pushed, witha similar pivoted on the body, a wheeljournaled on each 'axle,'the axis of each stub-axle pivot extending atright angles to the axis of the wheel, on the stub-axle,steering-levers, a rod connecting each lever with a stub-axle, andanother rod connecting each stub-axle with the forward axle ontheopposite side of the center, the two connecting-rods being crossedb'etween two pairs of wheels.

3. The combination of a vehicle-body and three pairs of wheels, acentrally-pivoted forward axle supported "b-y 'tw'o wheels, a rear 40axle supported by two other wheels, two stubaxles supported by theremaining wheels, said stub-axles being pivoted on-axes extending atright angles to their supporting-"wheel's, levers fiilcru'rnedoi1 *thebodyof the vehicle, and suitable hieans "co-uncari g the levers with thestub-axles and the latter with the forward axle whereby thejsteerin'g'is accomplished by the operationof the levers.

JAMES P. HORTGN.

Witnesses:

A. J. 0*BRIEN, G'RAOE MYTINGER.

